1st Advantage MortgageThe median Edgar County household earns $59,941, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Illinois before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Edgar County
- How much Edgar County households make
- Rent, home values and ownership in Edgar County
- How Edgar County residents earn a living
- Regional comparison for Edgar County
- Edgar County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Edgar County
- People and households in Edgar County
- What the numbers mean for Edgar County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Edgar County
- Checklist for Edgar County applicants
- More guides for Edgar County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Edgar County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Edgar County's population at 16,535; only 63 of Illinois's 102 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 623 square miles, that works out to roughly 26.5 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Paris is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 8,276 people (50% of the county total).
How much Edgar County households make
Edgar County households have a median income of $59,941 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 85th of 102 in Illinois.
| Band | Edgar County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.3% | +6.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.1% | +8.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.0% | -6.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -9.2 pts |
Some 27% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 27% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 12.0% of Edgar County residents in poverty, against 11.8% across Illinois. A household earning below the $59,941 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Edgar County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $775 in Edgar County versus $1,274 statewide. 34% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 8% spend half or more. With a median value of $97,300, a typical Edgar County house costs 1.6 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 73% of homes.
| Housing | Edgar County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $775/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $97,300 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 15% | 27% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 8% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
How Edgar County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Edgar County residents work in education and health care and 20% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 20% locally and 11% for Illinois. The survey's unemployment rate for Edgar County averages 4.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). About 85% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 8.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Edgar County | Difference from Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.2% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.6% | +8.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | +1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.2% | -2.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.3% | +0.9 pts |
| Other services | 6.1% | +1.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Edgar County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Regional comparison for Edgar County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Edgar County's, from 19 to 30 miles away. Douglas County leads the group on income ($77,320), Vigo County trails ($52,976), and Edgar County out-earns 2 of the six. The list crosses into Indiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgar County | - | $59,941 | $775/mo | 73% |
| Vermillion County, IN | 19 mi | $60,200 | $750/mo | 75% |
| Clark County, IL | 24 mi | $72,927 | $861/mo | 80% |
| Vigo County, IN | 26 mi | $52,976 | $924/mo | 62% |
| Douglas County, IL | 26 mi | $77,320 | $848/mo | 77% |
| Coles County, IL | 28 mi | $56,478 | $780/mo | 60% |
| Parke County, IN | 30 mi | $68,485 | $704/mo | 82% |
Edgar County towns compared
8 Census places fall mainly inside Edgar County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 11,668 residents, leaving about 29% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $69,231 at the median in Kansas, $53,927 in Paris. Live in one of these Edgar County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | city | 8,276 | $53,927 | $777 | 5 mi |
| Chrisman | city | 1,214 | $58,462 | $727 | 9 mi |
| Kansas | village | 884 | $69,231 | $725 | 13 mi |
| Hume | village | 492 | $63,958 | $854 | 10 mi |
| Brocton | village | 275 | $59,231 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Vermilion | village | 219 | $47,917 | $1,050 | 11 mi |
| Redmon | village | 169 | $70,625 | $850 | 7 mi |
| Metcalf | village | 139 | $54,881 | n/a | 9 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Edgar County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Edgar County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,995 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $775, takes 16% of that
- Under a 35% cap, $1,748 total minus rent leaves $973
- Under a 45% cap, $2,248 total minus rent leaves $1,473
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Edgar County
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Edgar County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.4% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.8% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.4% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.0% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 59.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.4% |
What the numbers mean for Edgar County borrowers
What the Edgar County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Fixed incomes. Edgar County's median age is 46.6. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Lender oversight for Edgar County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Edgar County resident can confirm its license with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Illinois guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Edgar County applicants
A short checklist for Edgar County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Edgar County
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Edgar County household make?
About $59,941 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 28% below the Illinois median.
What do renters pay in Edgar County?
$775 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
I live in a small Edgar County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Paris, Chrisman, Kansas, Hume, Brocton and 3 more.
Are Edgar County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Edgar County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Illinois it is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.